Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Absence of a role for lytic microorganisms in the decline of bacteria andSaccharomyces introduced into soil

  • Published:
Microbial Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The populations ofKlebsieila pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, andPseudomonas sp. fell following their addition to soil, but species lysing these gram-negative bacteria were not detected. The numbers ofStaphylococcus aureus andMicrococcus flavus fell by more than four orders of magnitude and ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae by more than two orders after their addition to soil. Organisms lysing these gram-positive bacteria were present in soil, but their numbers did not increase as a result of the additions. Lytic activity againstS. aureus was detected in soil filtrates, but this activity was not enhanced by inoculation of soil with the bacterium. Addition of cycloheximide to soil suspensions delayed the fall in abundance ofM. flavus but did not suppress the lytic populations. We conclude that lysis is not responsible for the decline of bacteria orS. cerevisiae added to soil.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alexander M (1981) Why microbial predators and parasites do not eliminate their prey and hosts. Annu Rev Microbiol 35:113–133

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bagnyuk VM, Zakordonets OA (1980) Investigation of the ecological role of lytic bacteria in activated sludge (in Russian). Dokl Akad Nauk SSSR, Biol Sci 254:1018–1021

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bloomfield BJ, Alexander M (1967) Melanins and resistance of fungi to lysis. J Bacteriol 93:1276–1280

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Drozanski W (1969) Bacteriolytic spectrum of the enzyme produced byAcanthamoeba castellanii. Acta Microbiol Polon Ser A 1:169–174

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gillespie DC, Cook FD (1965) Extracellular enzymes from strains ofSorangium. Can J Microbiol 11:109–118

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gunnison D, Alexander M (1975) Basis for the susceptibility of several algae to microbial decomposition. Can J Microbiol 21:619–628

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Habte M, Alexander M (1977) Further evidence for the regulation of bacterial populations in soil by protozoa. Arch Microbiol 113:181–183

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hagedorn C, Hansen DT, Simonson GH (1978) Survival and movement of fecal indicator bacteria in soil under conditions of saturated flow. J Environ Qual 7:55–59

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hirte WF (1977) Zur Lebensfähigkeit und Überlebensfähigkeit allochthoner und autochthoner Bakterien in Boden nach einer Superinfektion. Zentralbl Bakteriol Abt II 132:434–451

    Google Scholar 

  10. Jones D, Webley DM (1967) Lysis of the cell walls of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) by soil fungi. Trans Brit Mycol Soc 50:149–154

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kitamura K, Kaneko T, Yamamoto Y (1972) Lysis of viable yeast cells by enzymes ofArthrobacter luteus. Isolation of lytic strain and study of its lytic activity. J Gen Appl Microbiol 18:57–71

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kletter B, Henis Y (1963) Comparative studies on the growth of myxobacteria on bacterial suspensions. Can J Microbiol 9:577–584

    Google Scholar 

  13. Liang LN, Sinclair JL, Mallory LM, Alexander M (1982) Fate in model ecosystems of microbial species of potential use in genetic engineering. Appl Environ Microbiol 44:708–714

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lloyd AB, Lockwood JL (1966) Lysis of fungal hyphae in soil and its possible relation to autolysis. Phytopathology 56:595–602

    Google Scholar 

  15. Mallory LM, Yuk CS, Liang LN, Alexander M (1983) Alternative prey: a mechanism for elimination of bacterial species by protozoa. Appl Environ Microbiol 46:1073–1079

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Mitchell R, Yankofsky S, Jannasch HW (1967) Lysis ofEscherichia coli by marine microorganisms. Nature (London) 215:891–893

    Google Scholar 

  17. Pengra RM, Cole MA, Alexander M (1969) Cell walls and lysis ofMortierella parvispora hyphae. J Bacteriol 97:1056–1061

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Salton MRJ (1955) Isolation ofStreptomyces spp. capable of decomposing preparations of cell walls from various micro-organisms and a comparison of their lytic activities with those of certain actinomycetes and myxobacteria. J Gen Microbiol 12:25–30

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Sinclair JM, Alexander M (1984) Role of resistance to starvation in bacterial survival in sewage and lake water. Appl Environ Microbiol 48:410–415

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Department of Agronomy, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, New York, USA

    Yajarayma J. Tang & Martin Alexander

Authors
  1. Yajarayma J. Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martin Alexander
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tang, Y.J., Alexander, M. Absence of a role for lytic microorganisms in the decline of bacteria andSaccharomyces introduced into soil. Microb Ecol 14, 67–73 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02011571

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02011571

Keywords

Search

Navigation